Valve



United States Delaware Filed Mal'. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,605 2 Claims.(Cl. 137--625.46)

This invention relates to a valve construction of novel design.

In piston engines of the type operated by rocket-type propellants, i.e.,by gases at high temperatures and pressures, the control valving throughwhich the cylinders housing the reciprocating pistons are sequentiallycharged with the gas presents a substantial problem. Thus, using valvesof conventional design incorporating rubbing seals, it has been founddiicult to prevent undue leakage of the propellant gas linto thecylinders when the same are exhausting.

The invention has as a principal object to provide a Valve constructionsuited Ifor the purpose indicated which dispenses with the need forrubbing seals. Other objects and features of the invention will beapparent from the following description which will proceed withreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment and wherein:

FIGURE `l is a fragmentary sectional View of the valve with the movingcomponent shown for the most part in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the moving component including theshaft through which it is actuated.

In FIGURE l, the numeral -denotes the valve housing which will be seenprovided with a plurality of pairs of ports 12, 14. Port 12 in each casereceives propellant gas for charging through the companion part 14 toone of the cylinders of the engine served by the valve.

Housing 10 contines a rotary spool member 16 shown as having an integralactuating shaft 18. With the valve installed, the shaft 18 has operableconnection with means whereby the spool 16 is rotated in timed sequenceto properly charge the engine cylinders with propellant gas. Ports 12,with the valve installed, connect with a passage common theretoextending from the gas source.

Spool 16 will be noted as provided with a V-notch 20 operating tointerconnect the ports of each pair of ports when the notch is broughtinto the required juxtaposition.

To prevent or mitigate leakage between the port pairs,

arent 3,01 1,522 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 ricc spool 16 has therein aplurality of grooves 21 providing tins 22, each of which comprisesradial portions 22a and a peripheral portion 2.217. |These ns achievetheir purpose through interruption of the leakage ow between the portpairs. Thus, before leakage into an exhausting cylinder can take place,each groove in the path of the leakage gas must become lled therewithand the gas in the groove next to the opening to the cylinder mustattain a pressure sufficient to enable it to pass the sliding titbetween the intervening iin and the wall of the housing. In practice, itis found that such leakage as occurs does not appreciably adverselyatectthe operation of the engine.

I claim:

1. A valve construction including a housing member having end portionsand provided with a plurality of pairs of radial ports in spacedrelation, these ports being located in the body portion of the housingmember mediate said end portions, a member rotatable within said housingmember having a notch therein whereby the ports of each pair of portsmay be interconnected, said rotatable member being of cylindrical shapeand being provided with spaced fins serving to mitigate leakage betweensaid pairs of ports, and an actuating shaft coaxial with said rotatablemember, each of said tins comprising portions extending radially lfromthe axis of said rotatable member and a peripheral portioninterconnecting said radial portions.

2. A valve construction including a rst member having end portions andprovided with a plurality of pairs of radial ports in spaced relation,these ports being located in the body portion of the said member mediatesaid end portions, a second member Within said frst member having anotch therein whereby the ports of each pair of ports may beinterconnected on rotation of one of said members relative to the other,said second member being of cylindrical shape and being providedwith'spaced lins sewing to mitigate leakage between said pairs of ports,each of said ns comprising portions extending radially from the axis ofsaid second member and a peripheral portion interconnecting said radialportions.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,042,634 Wood Oct. 29, 1912 1,228,469y Mueller lune 5, l9l7 1,846,865Hapgood Feb. 23, 1932 '2,045,113 Ward June 23, 1936

